New green infrastructure improvements use trees and wildflowers to prevent flooding
WORK has begun in Barry to help reduce flooding in the area.
The initial work involves removing paving on Court Road and Gladstone Road to make way for some innovative new flood defences.
The new initiative will improve the flow of rainwater by replacing concrete and tarmac on public highways with trees and wildflowers.
The addition of grass and trees should soak up rainwater, reducing the amount of surface water that flows downhill towards areas such as Cadoxton.
“Bringing natural features such as trees and wildflowers back into towns can help us tackle a range of urban environmental challenges such as stormwater management, pollution reduction, and climate resiliency,” said a spokesperson for Vale of Glamorgan Council.
These new improvements will cost the council £244,000 with the Welsh Government providing £195,000 finding for the scheme.
The plan is to introduce these green spaces into highways and demonstrate how green improvements to existing infrastructure can be made both practical and attractive to the public.
The scheme will:
- Remove paving and replace with trees and wildflowers.
- Plant a variety of trees along existing highways.
- Introduce rain gardens to manage surface water run-off.
- Introduce amphibian ladders into gullies to aid local wildlife.
- Add public green spaces, to include paths, seats and bins.
However, there are some minor disruptions.
The Court Road roundabout is one of the main access points into Barry town centre, and the roadworks could cause some delays.
The public footpath is also out of use, with a temporary path created in the meantime.
But after recent flooding, the improvements can’t come quickly enough.
Widespread flooding on December 23 caused major disruptions across Barry, Penarth and Dinas Powys.
Dock View Road and Ffordd Y Mileniwm were completely flooded along with Maslin Park, Island Road, the A48 and the B4265.
South Wales Police and the Vale of Glamorgan Council also put out a travel warning advising people only to travel if necessary.
It’s hoped that these new prevention works will go some way towards reducing flood risks in the area.
However, it looks as though the Vale of Glamorgan Council is planning to do even more to improve flood defences across the region.
Following the December 2020 floods, letters have been sent out across Barry, Penarth and Dinas Powys asking residents for details of how they were personally affected.
“Following the extreme weather event on December 23 and the subsequent flooding, the council, in it’s capacity as lead local flood authority, is investigating the full details of this event,” said Michael Clogg, engineering operational manager.
The council also asked for any further comments and evidence to show the extent of the flooding.
But some council members suggest this new scheme could be expanded further.
“This could prove to be a blueprint for future highways improvements,” said Coun Peter King. “The choice of trees will be specific to the location and where space is limited we propose to plant smaller and less vigorous trees to ensure they establish successfully.”
Work began on January 25, 2021 and will take around nine weeks to complete.
